School or Burning Man?

The Board of Education is expected to approve the school district's calendar for the 2005-06 academic year tonight -- but not before a spirited debate among parents over when classes should begin.

...

This year, however, brings a new wrinkle -- the 20th anniversary of the Burning Man art festival in the wastelands of Nevada is scheduled for Aug. 29- Sept. 5. In an only-in-San Francisco argument, several parents are demanding that school start Sept. 6 so their children can attend the event.

I find that highly amusing. It's such a California thing to do. Really, it's such a San Francisco or Bay Area thing to do.

Reminds me of growing up in the middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania. Our high-school had an "in-service" day every year on the first day of hunting season. The next day, students would talk about how points their buck was worth, while eating the venison they packed for lunch.

August 29th is not early - some North Texas ISD's (Independent School Districts) start the first week of August. If SFO would give that a try, the kids would have already put in enough time that they'd be ready for a break - kind of like a second summer break.

Children here in Mexico wanting to advance beyond the sixth grade, must obtain a recommendation, and then hope that their families can somehow pay tuition, books, supplies, uniforms, etc., in order to enter la preperatoria. Of course, that's assuming there is a class space available.

I don't understand why parents from San Francisco would want to limit their childrens' chance to attend classes. Am I missing something here?

"I don't understand why parents from San Francisco would want to limit their childrens' chance to attend classes. Am I missing something here?"

Just the fact that Americans don't generally care about education, and would rather spend their time going out and killing stuff...or something of that sort.

Of course, not all Americans are like that. Seems like way too many are, though.

Actually, though, I doubt they'd really be limiting the chances of classtime; it would simply be postponed a few days (weeks?), and end a bit later into the summer. But from what little I've heard about burning man, is it really that safe for kids? Mind you, I know very little...

It doesn't matter when school starts because each year adds up to the same total days regardless. A late start just means a late end. Personally I like the idea of starting school after labor day to get that last summer vacation in.

I've been to Burning Man several times but haven't yet taken the kids. It's not the nudity or freaky stuff I worry about, rather who's going to watch the kids late at night when all the fun going on. The Black Rock desert can also be a tough environment for anyone.

Considering BM cost aprox. $200 per ticket and kids get in free - I would like them to experience the event before they have to buy a ticket.

The children might be better served if the parents spent time getting things ready to attend classes: clothes, school supplies, scheduling issues, visit the school and the teacher/s, etc. Determine what must be done to allow the kids to suceed rather than drag them through Nevada and California, then shove them on the school bus.

This is why we homeschool our kids. Why should anybody be a slave to an arbitrary government school schedule? If the parents want to take a week off to hit Burning Man they should be able to do it without having to answer to a school official. The government isn't raising the kids, the parents are.

Pat,
Are you saying that people who vacation the week before school starts are denying preparation for the school year?

On the contrary, going to burning man, or any vacation doesn't happen for the kids with school in session. That's the entire point of this thread. I'd have to say that parents now days put more volunteer time and money into helping public schools than ever before - I know I do.

Pat,
Are you saying that people who vacation the week before school starts are denying preparation for the school year?

On the contrary, going to burning man, or any vacation doesn't happen for the kids with school in session. That's the entire point of this thread. I'd have to say that parents now days put more volunteer time and money into helping public schools than ever before - I know I do.

The necessity of two incomes is a myth in many cases. The second income mostly pays taxes, and to support a upper middle class lifestyle with two BMW's in the garage of a gated community. There is nothing inherently wrong with that choice, but it is a choice, not a necessity.

I don't know. My mother pulled me out of first grade for a day so we could go see the van Gogh exibit back in 1970 and I don't think that was the wrong choice. So much of what is taught in schools is rote and teaching to the test anyway--more so than 35 years ago, that I think you have to give kids a different set of tools to think about the world whether you home school or not.
Taking the kids to Burning man is a real choice, and in a lot of ways I think it's a much better environment than the heavily advertising saturated default world. (Note, not all ways. I think you take the kids to BM only if you're ready to make sure that they are okay physically and otherwise--I'm just saying that it's not an automatic bad decision.) 10 years in the California Public Schools were only the beginning of my education--and college wasn't much better. Oh well.

Chris,
yes, I know nothing about home schooling but I can assure you that duel incomes where I live is not a "myth" but rather a reality.

Mike,
No doubt public schools could use improvement, however the alternatives are home school and private school - expensive. I'm making use with the best option available to me and volunteer time and $$ to my kids public school when I can.

I'm surprised you think the problem lies with "greedy teachers". I happen to think teachers, for the education required of them, are very under paid.

My 9 year old daughter has been homeschooled for several years and is making her third trip to Burning Man in 2006. She is a far more creative, open, curious and loving child (not to mention better educated) from her trips with Dad to Burning Man and her homeschooling experience. How sad that some would see a day or two at Burning Man with your child as something that is somehow "irresponsible".

on December 31, 2005 03:33 PM

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are mine and
mine alone. My current, past, or previous employers are not responsible for what I
write here, the comments left by others, or the photos I may share. If
you have questions, please contact
me. Also, I am not a journalist or reporter. Don't "pitch" me.

Privacy: I do not share or publish the email addresses
or IP addresses of anyone posting a comment here without consent.
However, I do reserve the right to remove comments that are spammy,
off-topic, or otherwise unsuitable based on my comment
policy. In a few cases, I may leave spammy comments but remove any
URLs they contain.